A brightly colored Carpenter's Wheel quilt block Trades or occupations inspired the names of some quilt blocks. Carpentry was an essential trade in early America, as it is today. A Carpenter's Wheel is a measuring device, used to measure such things as fence lines, walls and wherever a tape measure won’t work well.

A Carpenter's Wheel quilt This pattern is also called “Carpenter’s Star”, among other names. This quilt square is mounted on the barn at Franklin Park Arts Center in Purcellville.

Parks & Rec Staff installing the Carpenter's Wheel at Franklin Park Arts Center

A Carpenter's Wheel quiltParks & Rec Staff installing the Carpenter's Wheel at Franklin Park Arts Center